Pastor Jim Garlow thinks people need to wake up to a serious culture myth

June 04, 2015

Writer

People just assume that just because things are one way today, they will be that tomorrow. That's a huge cultural myth. You need to prepare for what is coming in the very near future, and Pastor Jim Garlow is hosting a conference in San Diego to help. On radio this morning, Pastor Garlow discussed the the Future Conference, the Black Robed Regiment, and more.

GLENN: Jim Garlow is a good friend of mine and was there with us at Restoring Honor. He is the pastor of Skyline Church in San Diego, which is not an easy place to be a pastor. He has been under attack and his church has been under attack for a very, very long time. But he has something going on. June 14th through the 17th. And it's free to attend. If you happen to be listening anywhere in California or you want to travel to California -- San Diego is not a bad place to vacation, especially in June -- you can find information on this at SkylineChurch.org. He has a conference, and I'll let him tell the idea behind it. But it's basically to start to empower you, people of faith, and empower the pulpits to do the same thing. It's called the Future Conference, and Jim is with us now. Hi, Jim.

JIM: Hey, Glenn. Good to be on with you, my friend.

GLENN: Thank you. Tell me about the conference. You have 50 people coming in, and you're covering everything.

JIM: It's 56 speakers, but who's counting? And we're covering all kind of topics: Poverty, racism, the Biblical foundations to economics, how to save Iraqi Christians, how to relate to millennials, human trafficking, the tragic loss of religious liberty in America, terrorism here, terrorism abroad, the role of Israel, radical Islam. Emergency preparedness, defending marriage, radical new evangelism, and even this topic, when biblical obedience requires civil disobedience, or principled resistance. So a lot of different topics, and it's designed to educate, embolden, and activate all of us.

GLENN: Jim, I have to tell you, I'm announcing something next week myself, and I think that the -- I think the Lord speaks through the multitudes. And we are -- we are at the time that none of us thought could happen or would happen, never again is now.

You're feeling that. Is that why you're doing this?

JIM: Absolutely. Absolutely. Morally and economically, we're at a crisis, and that's not just a euphemism. We have this cultural myth that many people follow. The cultural myth goes like this: The way things are, are the way things are always going to be. And that is not the case.

Any study of history knows that nations begin, and nations end. And some are saying we are at the end of the end. And they're not Chicken Little, just screaming the sky is falling. Even in the economic world -- I have a friend who lectures -- speaks at a prestigious east coast university to billionaires who told me last week that among the billionaire friends he has -- he's lectured every year for many years -- and he says, never have I seen them with this level of fear in just the economic arena. And in the moral collapse of our nation.

And so the Future Conference is one guy's way, and we all have our part. My way of saying, I take a stand here, and I want to raise up as many people as I can who really understand the biblical underpinnings. God's word has all the truth. The biblical underpinnings of all of these contemporary gutsy issues. Equip as many people as rapidly as I can in all these issues.

We have an incredible list of speakers. Congressman Bob McEwen. Bishop Harry Jackson from D.C. Star Parker. The Catholic Chaldean bishop, Bishop Mar Sarhad Jammo. Now, he's from Baghdad. He'll give us a report on how to save Iraqi Christians, his own friends.

Kendra Todd. She's going to speak on how to reach millennials with the truth. She happens to be the first female to ever be on Donald Trump's The Apprentice, the youngest ever to win it.

A man named Kasim Hafeez. Now, he is a radical -- was a radical Islamists and got spun around and lost his hatred for Israel and realizes how spectacular Israel is.

Another one is Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook. She's an Obama appointee. Was. She stepped out of the role now. But the religious liberty ambassador to all nations. And a host of others. There's 56 speakers total. That's just a few of them. Like Steve Riggle, for example. He's one of the pastors of the Houston five that was attacked by the mayor there recently when she went after five pastors and violated the First Amendment. So a host of speakers covering so many superb topics.

GLENN: Okay. You're hearing Jim Garlow. He's the pastor of Skyline Church in San Diego. Jim was one of the first to sign up for the Black Robe Regiment, when we went to Washington, DC, five years ago this summer, and has been a good friend ever since. And his -- somebody has just come up to me over the last three months, Glenn, do you remember those groups of guys that stood behind you on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial? Is that still going, and are those guys still active? Not only is that still going, the number in the Black Robe Regiment is about 70,000 now. The number that I think will walk through a wall of fire, you know, and possible death is anywhere between 17 and 10,000. That's an extraordinary number of people that are willing to lay it all down on the table and go to jail or go to death because they serve God and not man.

Jim is one of those men. So you are -- you're putting this together. Now, is this -- is this for pastors or is this for regular people?

JIM: We're saying it this way. It's for three categories. Pastors. Christian leaders. And serious followers of God. And so it's wide open to anybody who is serious about these things, who wants to learn.

It's interesting. The line of the speakers is so exceptional, so strong -- by the way, they can go to FutureConference2015.com, and they'll see the whole list of speakers, or SkylineChurch.org. Either place. And the list of speakers is so strong, that one of the major universities here in San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University is giving three hours' graduate credit for people who come to this conference and who will sign up of course through the university to get that.

But it's a goal -- you used some language here a moment ago, Glenn, that the uninitiated will understand. Willing to walk through the wall of fire and possibly death, that's what you just said.

And that's honestly where we are. I spoke to a group of about 350 pastors one time at Samford. Not Stanford. But Samford University down in Alabama. And behind me on the wall was a bust of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. And I said to the pastors: Stop telling stories and illustrations about Dietrich Bonhoeffer and be willing to be Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

And we have come to that moment. You have wisely said, what you did a few moments ago, based upon an accurate reading of the cultural landscape. And people like you and me and, thank God, many others are digging in very deeply and laying the benchmark of where we're going to stand on these issues. And so I urge people to come to San Diego for four wonderful days, June 14 through 17. It starts off with Bob McEwen. He'll speak in our Sunday morning services. But it officially kicks off Sunday afternoon at 6:00 p.m. June 14th, ends Wednesday night, June 17th. There's no registration charge. No cost for coming. We do ask people to register though at FutureConference2015.com, or they can call the church office: 619-660-5000.

GLENN: Jim, can I ask you one last question?

JIM: Yes, sir.

GLENN: Compare what you believed or where you were five years ago to where you are today. I've known for five -- when we first stood on those stairs together, I knew where we were headed. Most did not. We all kind of hoped that it wouldn't come down. But I have had a growing feeling since last year. And unstoppable feeling this year. That it now is time and it has begun. Can you tell me the difference five years ago to today?

JIM: I will. And I'm going to take you back just three years ago. You were on the platform of our church. And I threw the question out to you and one other person in that Sunday night seminar format. And I said, where are we right now in America? And the other person said, the Titanic has not hit the iceberg yet. You leaned over to me and said: I want to answer first. I disagree. And you said, the Titanic has hit the iceberg. It's a case of now getting life jackets and lifeboats. I agreed with you that day. And I agree with you today.

You have and I have and others like us and some listening have what I call the disadvantage of the prophet. That's where you can see what other people cannot see. And you sound so alarmist. You sound so melodramatic. Other people are saying, we can play shuffleboard on the surface of the Titanic. It will be fine. You see what is happening, and you're trying to save lives. Here's how I know how much worse it has gotten. I record once a month, and I just finished moments ago recording one-minute commentaries. They're called the Garlow Perspective, and they air on 850 radio outlets once a day. And most of them are recordings of the state of lawsuits against Christians across America. I just finished that recording moments ago.

And every month, I get shocked. I get stunned at how much more severe the lawsuits are against being a follower of Jesus Christ in this nation. The rise of the anti-Christian sentiment and the rise globally of anti-Semitism. I just got back from Israel. It's my seventh trip. My wife's 53rd trip. We just got back a week ago from Israel. And what we're witnessing globally, what we're witnessing here, the world is on fire. Something is happening, and we want to urge as many people to be prepared to stand. I tell my own congregation. I can't tell you exactly what is coming, but I am preparing you for whatever it is that's coming.

GLENN: Jim, thank you for being one of those men. Thank you. Sincerely. It is a --

JIM: To you as well.

GLENN: It's rare to meet somebody and then know them as well as I know you and to know that you're not in this for the money. You're not in this for a book sale. You're not in this -- you really will stand till the end. And to hear you speak this way, you and I have spoken off-air over the years, and we have both said, well, maybe some day. But not quite now. And to hear you do this and put this together at the same time that I'm feeling the same things and I'm doing something myself, I am telling you, the Spirit speaks through the multitudes. And I'm grateful. I'm grateful for your willingness to stand.

JIM: Well, thank you. When Bruce Jenner, or Caitlyn, is lifted up and then a person who says that a child deserves to have a mommy and daddy is condemned and potentially fined and can be sentenced to jail, that is where we have gotten.

But the good news is, we're not budging. And we're not going anywhere. We're standing. And truth always eventually and righteousness always eventually emerges. My Ph.D. is in historical theology and church history, and truth always ultimately wins out.

GLENN: Jim, thank you very much. Appreciate it.

JIM: Blessings on you. And thank you, my friend.

GLENN: You too. Jim Garlow. Skyline Church. It's SkylineChurch.org. It's in San Diego. It's actually La Mesa, California. The Future Conference: What you thought was coming is here now. That's the name of it. SkylineChurch.org. Do you feel that, Pat? Or is that just me?

What our response to Israel reveals about us

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I have been honored to receive the Defender of Israel Award from Prime Minister Netanyahu.

The Jerusalem Post recently named me one of the strongest Christian voices in support of Israel.

And yet, my support is not blind loyalty. It’s not a rubber stamp for any government or policy. I support Israel because I believe it is my duty — first as a Christian, but even if I weren’t a believer, I would still support her as a man of reason, morality, and common sense.

Because faith isn’t required to understand this: Israel’s existence is not just about one nation’s survival — it is about the survival of Western civilization itself.

It is a lone beacon of shared values in the Middle East. It is a bulwark standing against radical Islam — the same evil that seeks to dismantle our own nation from within.

And my support is not rooted in politics. It is rooted in something simpler and older than politics: a people’s moral and historical right to their homeland, and their right to live in peace.

Israel has that right — and the right to defend herself against those who openly, repeatedly vow her destruction.

Let’s make it personal: if someone told me again and again that they wanted to kill me and my entire family — and then acted on that threat — would I not defend myself? Wouldn’t you? If Hamas were Canada, and we were Israel, and they did to us what Hamas has done to them, there wouldn’t be a single building left standing north of our border. That’s not a question of morality.

That’s just the truth. All people — every people — have a God-given right to protect themselves. And Israel is doing exactly that.

My support for Israel’s right to finish the fight against Hamas comes after eighty years of rejected peace offers and failed two-state solutions. Hamas has never hidden its mission — the eradication of Israel. That’s not a political disagreement.

That’s not a land dispute. That is an annihilationist ideology. And while I do not believe this is America’s war to fight, I do believe — with every fiber of my being — that it is Israel’s right, and moral duty, to defend her people.

Criticism of military tactics is fair. That’s not antisemitism. But denying Israel’s right to exist, or excusing — even celebrating — the barbarity of Hamas? That’s something far darker.

We saw it on October 7th — the face of evil itself. Women and children slaughtered. Babies burned alive. Innocent people raped and dragged through the streets. And now, to see our own fellow citizens march in defense of that evil… that is nothing short of a moral collapse.

If the chants in our streets were, “Hamas, return the hostages — Israel, stop the bombing,” we could have a conversation.

But that’s not what we hear.

What we hear is open sympathy for genocidal hatred. And that is a chasm — not just from decency, but from humanity itself. And here lies the danger: that same hatred is taking root here — in Dearborn, in London, in Paris — not as horror, but as heroism. If we are not vigilant, the enemy Israel faces today will be the enemy the free world faces tomorrow.

This isn’t about politics. It’s about truth. It’s about the courage to call evil by its name and to say “Never again” — and mean it.

And you don’t have to open a Bible to understand this. But if you do — if you are a believer — then this issue cuts even deeper. Because the question becomes: what did God promise, and does He keep His word?

He told Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you.” He promised to make Abraham the father of many nations and to give him “the whole land of Canaan.” And though Abraham had other sons, God reaffirmed that promise through Isaac. And then again through Isaac’s son, Jacob — Israel — saying: “The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I give to you and to your descendants after you.”

That’s an everlasting promise.

And from those descendants came a child — born in Bethlehem — who claimed to be the Savior of the world. Jesus never rejected His title as “son of David,” the great King of Israel.

He said plainly that He came “for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” And when He returns, Scripture says He will return as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah.” And where do you think He will go? Back to His homeland — Israel.

Tamir Kalifa / Stringer | Getty Images

And what will He find when He gets there? His brothers — or his brothers’ enemies? Will the roads where He once walked be preserved? Or will they lie in rubble, as Gaza does today? If what He finds looks like the aftermath of October 7th, then tell me — what will be my defense as a Christian?

Some Christians argue that God’s promises to Israel have been transferred exclusively to the Church. I don’t believe that. But even if you do, then ask yourself this: if we’ve inherited the promises, do we not also inherit the land? Can we claim the birthright and then, like Esau, treat it as worthless when the world tries to steal it?

So, when terrorists come to slaughter Israelis simply for living in the land promised to Abraham, will we stand by? Or will we step forward — into the line of fire — and say,

“Take me instead”?

Because this is not just about Israel’s right to exist.

It’s about whether we still know the difference between good and evil.

It’s about whether we still have the courage to stand where God stands.

And if we cannot — if we will not — then maybe the question isn’t whether Israel will survive. Maybe the question is whether we will.

When did Americans start cheering for chaos?

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Every time we look away from lawlessness, we tell the next mob it can go a little further.

Chicago, Portland, and other American cities are showing us what happens when the rule of law breaks down. These cities have become openly lawless — and that’s not hyperbole.

When a governor declares she doesn’t believe federal agents about a credible threat to their lives, when Chicago orders its police not to assist federal officers, and when cartels print wanted posters offering bounties for the deaths of U.S. immigration agents, you’re looking at a country flirting with anarchy.

Two dangers face us now: the intimidation of federal officers and the normalization of soldiers as street police. Accept either, and we lose the republic.

This isn’t a matter of partisan politics. The struggle we’re watching now is not between Democrats and Republicans. It’s between good and evil, right and wrong, self‑government and chaos.

Moral erosion

For generations, Americans have inherited a republic based on law, liberty, and moral responsibility. That legacy is now under assault by extremists who openly seek to collapse the system and replace it with something darker.

Antifa, well‑financed by the left, isn’t an isolated fringe any more than Occupy Wall Street was. As with Occupy, big money and global interests are quietly aligned with “anti‑establishment” radicals. The goal is disruption, not reform.

And they’ve learned how to condition us. Twenty‑five years ago, few Americans would have supported drag shows in elementary schools, biological males in women’s sports, forced vaccinations, or government partnerships with mega‑corporations to decide which businesses live or die. Few would have tolerated cartels threatening federal agents or tolerated mobs doxxing political opponents. Yet today, many shrug — or cheer.

How did we get here? What evidence convinced so many people to reverse themselves on fundamental questions of morality, liberty, and law? Those long laboring to disrupt our republic have sought to condition people to believe that the ends justify the means.

Promoting “tolerance” justifies women losing to biological men in sports. “Compassion” justifies harboring illegal immigrants, even violent criminals. Whatever deluded ideals Antifa espouses is supposed to somehow justify targeting federal agents and overturning the rule of law. Our culture has been conditioned for this moment.

The buck stops with us

That’s why the debate over using troops to restore order in American cities matters so much. I’ve never supported soldiers executing civilian law, and I still don’t. But we need to speak honestly about what the Constitution allows and why. The Posse Comitatus Act sharply limits the use of the military for domestic policing. The Insurrection Act, however, exists for rare emergencies — when federal law truly can’t be enforced by ordinary means and when mobs, cartels, or coordinated violence block the courts.

Even then, the Constitution demands limits: a public proclamation ordering offenders to disperse, transparency about the mission, a narrow scope, temporary duration, and judicial oversight.

Soldiers fight wars. Cops enforce laws. We blur that line at our peril.

But we also cannot allow intimidation of federal officers or tolerate local officials who openly obstruct federal enforcement. Both extremes — lawlessness on one side and militarization on the other — endanger the republic.

The only way out is the Constitution itself. Protect civil liberty. Enforce the rule of law. Demand transparency. Reject the temptation to justify any tactic because “our side” is winning. We’ve already seen how fear after 9/11 led to the Patriot Act and years of surveillance.

KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / Contributor | Getty Images

Two dangers face us now: the intimidation of federal officers and the normalization of soldiers as street police. Accept either, and we lose the republic. The left cannot be allowed to shut down enforcement, and the right cannot be allowed to abandon constitutional restraint.

The real threat to the republic isn’t just the mobs or the cartels. It’s us — citizens who stop caring about truth and constitutional limits. Anything can be justified when fear takes over. Everything collapses when enough people decide “the ends justify the means.”

We must choose differently. Uphold the rule of law. Guard civil liberties. And remember that the only way to preserve a government of, by, and for the people is to act like the people still want it.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Stand with Voddie Baucham’s family in this time of loss

In the quiet aftermath of a profound loss, the Christian community mourns the unexpected passing of Dr. Voddie Baucham, a towering figure in evangelical circles. Known for his defense of biblical truth, Baucham, a pastor, author, and theologian, left a legacy on family, faith, and opposing "woke" ideologies in the church. His book Fault Lines challenged believers to prioritize Scripture over cultural trends. Glenn had Voddie on the show several times, where they discussed progressive influences in Christianity, debunked myths of “Christian nationalism,” and urged hope amid hostility.

The shock of Baucham's death has deeply affected his family. Grieving, they remain hopeful in Christ, with his wife, Bridget, now facing the task of resettling in the US without him. Their planned move from Lusaka, Zambia, was disrupted when their home sale fell through last December, resulting in temporary Airbnb accommodations, but they have since secured a new home in Cape Coral that requires renovations. To ensure Voddie's family is taken care of, a fundraiser is being held to raise $2 million, which will be invested for ongoing support, allowing Bridget to focus on her family.

We invite readers to contribute prayerfully. If you feel called to support the Bauchams in this time of need, you can click here to donate.

We grieve and pray with hope for the Bauchams.

May Voddie's example inspire us.

From isolation to connection: Overcoming loneliness

Loneliness isn’t just being alone — it’s feeling unseen, unheard, and unimportant, even amid crowds and constant digital chatter.

Loneliness has become an epidemic in America. Millions of people, even when surrounded by others, feel invisible. In tragic irony, we live in an age of unparalleled connectivity, yet too many sit in silence, unseen and unheard.

I’ve been experiencing this firsthand. My children have grown up and moved out. The house that once overflowed with life now echoes with quiet. Moments that once held laughter now hold silence. And in that silence, the mind can play cruel games. It whispers, “You’re forgotten. Your story doesn’t matter.”

We are unique in our gifts, but not in our humanity. Recognizing this shared struggle is how we overcome loneliness.

It’s a lie.

I’ve seen it in others. I remember sitting at Rockefeller Center one winter, watching a woman lace up her ice skates. Her clothing was worn, her bag battered. Yet on the ice, she transformed — elegant, alive, radiant.

Minutes later, she returned to her shoes, merged into the crowd, unnoticed. I’ve thought of her often. She was not alone in her experience. Millions of Americans live unseen, performing acts of quiet heroism every day.

Shared pain makes us human

Loneliness convinces us to retreat, to stay silent, to stop reaching out to others. But connection is essential. Even small gestures — a word of encouragement, a listening ear, a shared meal — are radical acts against isolation.

I’ve learned this personally. Years ago, a caller called me “Mr. Perfect.” I could have deflected, but I chose honesty. I spoke of my alcoholism, my failed marriage, my brokenness. I expected judgment. Instead, I found resonance. People whispered back, “I’m going through the same thing. Thank you for saying it.”

Our pain is universal. Everyone struggles with self-doubt and fear. Everyone feels, at times, like a fraud. We are unique in our gifts, but not in our humanity. Recognizing this shared struggle is how we overcome loneliness.

We were made for connection. We were built for community — for conversation, for touch, for shared purpose. Every time we reach out, every act of courage and compassion punches a hole in the wall of isolation.

You’re not alone

If you’re feeling alone, know this: You are not invisible. You are seen. You matter. And if you’re not struggling, someone you know is. It’s your responsibility to reach out.

Loneliness is not proof of brokenness. It is proof of humanity. It is a call to engage, to bear witness, to connect. The world is different because of the people who choose to act. It is brighter when we refuse to be isolated.

We cannot let silence win. We cannot allow loneliness to dictate our lives. Speak. Reach out. Connect. Share your gifts. By doing so, we remind one another: We are all alike, and yet each of us matters profoundly.

In this moment, in this country, in this world, what we do matters. Loneliness is real, but so is hope. And hope begins with connection.